For two days, Nero guided the convoy north. Finally, they arrived at the rusting steel factory where Hale and Ryan had fallen. Soldiers disembarked, quickly sweeping the area and giving Nero clearance to step out of Warden.
Lina and CH began to follow him, but Nero stopped them, his voice heavy. "You two stay here. You've seen enough death. I don't want to show you anymore."
Veltin walked over and sat beside them, offering silent support, while Nero went outside.
Vinn walked alongside him toward a dust-covered vehicle. Nero reached out and brushed some of the grime from the back—it was Nomad. He paused in front of it and saw Private Thorn Ekkel and Specialist Mira Tohn standing near something draped in a white sheet.
As Nero approached, Tohn lifted the sheet. Beneath it lay Ryan's body, already decomposed with signs of animal attacks. Nero crouched beside him.
"I'm sorry for scaring you, Ryan…"
His voice tightened.
"Please forgive me."
Vinn stepped closer, his voice heavy with grief. "It's been a while, Ryan. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me most."
Nero turned to him. "You knew him?"
"Yeah," Vinn said quietly. "We were friends. We joined the military together."
"Did he have family? Anyone waiting for him?" Nero asked.
Vinn shook his head. "No. He lost everyone before joining the military. He was a good friend."
Nero covered Ryan again and stood. "Yes… he was a great friend."
They moved toward the other body. Tohn and Ekkel carefully lifted Ryan into a body bag and loaded him into Strider, where the bodies of Rhea and Kato were stored. Nearby, Private Kez Brenn and Private Juno Rael removed the sheet covering Hale. Nero knelt beside her, despite the smell of decay filling the air.
"I will keep training," he whispered, his voice cracking, "just like you taught me."
Tears glimmered in his eyes under the noon sun. "I'll remember to keep my eyes closed while throwing a flash grenade." A faint, broken smile crossed his face—gone just as quickly. The grief overwhelmed him, and he let the tears fall freely. He wiped them away and stood.
Rael and Brenn lifted Hale into a body bag and loaded her into Strider. Major Harrow instructed the soldiers to clean Nomad and ensure it was fit to drive.
Nero walked back toward Warden and his right foot struck something hard in the grass. He crouched and saw it was his old 'Desert Eagle, .50 AE'. Picking it up, he noted it was empty. He brought it inside Warden, carefully disassembling it to check its condition while the soldiers cleaned and refueled Nomad.
After reassembling the gun, he turned to Veltin. "Colonel, may I have a single .50 AE?"
"For what?" she asked.
Pointing at the gun, he said, "I want to check if it works. I intend to keep using this."
Veltin took out a .50 AE round from her sidearm and handed it to him. Nero nodded in thanks.
Outside, Lina asked, "Can I come with you?"
"Sure," he said, "but stay behind me."
He loaded the bullet and looked for a target. CH pointed at a distant tree and let out a low Maa. Nero warned Lina, "Cover your ears. This will be loud."
Veltin informed the nearby soldiers that Nero would perform a test fire. He aimed at the tree and squeezed the trigger. The gun roared, and Lina flinched. The bullet struck the tree dead center.
Nero inspected the gun. "Still working… just like before."
With Nomad cleaned, refueled, and loaded with their supplies, the convoy started the journey back to Ironwatch Hold.
After four days of relentless travel, the convoy reached Ironwatch Hold at dawn. The vehicles slowed as the base came into view.
The once untouchable entrance now stood scarred, held together by hasty repairs.
Harrow's left eye widened, while the empty socket of his right throbbed. He raised a hand to it and muttered, "This reminds me of when I lost it… in a sabotage."
Relin whispered, "What could have done this much damage?"
Shock rippled through the convoy.
Soldiers at the base were still working nonstop to restore what was lost.
The convoy halted outside the entrance—the vehicles couldn't be brought in. One by one, everyone disembarked.
Nero, Lina, CH, and Vinn followed Colonel Veltin through the battered corridors. Blood stains clung stubbornly to the floor. Walls were blackened by fire. Cracks splintered across stone. Light fixtures hung shattered, buzzing faintly.
They reached the General's office. Veltin knocked firmly.
"General, this is Colonel Yara Veltin. Reporting back from the escort mission. I have Angelo with me, along with Corporal Vinn Seras and two civilians from that town."
From inside came the reply: "Enter."
The door opened.
Mordane sat behind mountains of paperwork. At his side sat Seraphine.
Nero's gaze found hers instantly. Bright gold met lifeless silver.
Seraphine rose, her five orbs igniting, ready to strike.
But before she could move, Nero's gun was already drawn, aimed directly at her head. His expression was cold as ever.
Gasps erupted around the room.
"Do not engage in here!" Mordane thundered.
Nero's left arm swept Lina and CH behind him. His voice cut like frost as he addressed her:
"You really don't want to make me angry."
Seraphine's orbs dimmed and withdrew. She inclined her head slightly.
"My apologies. Your presence startled me."
Nero lowered his weapon. "Let's cut to the chase. Why do you want me?"
For the first time since her arrival, Seraphine's feet touched the ground. She bowed gracefully.
"I am Seraphine—the Light of Judgment. I am here to transport the Void to another dimension."
Everyone in the office froze, confused.
Nero's voice cut the silence.
"What are you talking about? What dimension?"
Seraphine lifted her chin, her tone steady.
"There are infinite dimensions. The Void must not remain in this one for much longer. Your presence here will only draw more of the Corrupted King's armies. More people will die. Even the combined forces of Haven and Hell cannot hold them back forever. You must move to another dimension—so his army follows you there."
Nero narrowed his eyes.
"So, you want me to take my shit and move to someone else's house—so they have to clean up the mess?"
Seraphine shook her head.
"You misunderstand. The other dimension may not be strong enough to hold the army at bay. You must keep moving—jumping dimensions, keeping the horde on your tail—until you regain full control of yourself and erase the Corrupted King and his army once and for all."
A voice echoed inside Nero's mind—Angelo's.
That might be the only way.
"How can I trust her?" Nero muttered inwardly. "She's an angel."
She isn't like the ones I fought before, Angelo replied.
Nero turned back to Seraphine. His eyes were cold.
"How do I know you're not lying? The angels I fought before tried to kill me—and everyone else."
Offense flickered across Seraphine's face. Her voice sharpened.
"Those you fought were not angels. They were copies—mockeries created by the Corrupted King. All of his creations carry a core."
Nero's brow furrowed.
"So these infinite dimensions… they're like what the scientists theorized about?"
"More or less," Seraphine answered.
For a moment, hope broke through his voice.
"Does that mean… there might be a dimension where my family is still alive?"
Seraphine hesitated, then said softly, "There is a small chance."
Angelo's voice pressed inside his mind again. We have to take this chance.
Nero swallowed hard, fighting the tears, and exhaled a long, heavy sigh.
"Fine. I'll move to the new dimension." He placed a hand gently on Lina's head. "But I promised her I'd keep her safe. I won't leave until she can stand on her own."
Lina clutched at his shirt, refusing to let go.
Seraphine studied them, silent for a long moment. Finally, she spoke:
"I can give you five years here. No more. After that, I will have to force you to leave."
Nero looked at Lina, and she nodded once.
Inside his mind, Angelo chuckled. Did you really scare an angel… with an empty gun?
Nero smirked faintly. Yeah. I can't believe she fell for it.
Mordane suddenly slammed his hand against the desk.
"You two just decided all this amongst yourselves?! And why the hell is there a goat in my office?"
Seraphine's eyes flashed.
"It was never your decision to make. You humans should stay out of this."
CH stepped forward, unblinking, locking eyes with Mordane.
"What is with this old goat glaring at me?" Mordane snapped.
Nero's voice was calm, almost warning.
"You really don't want to get on CH's bad side, General."
Mordane's face twisted with irritation.
"Colonel, get all of them out of my sight. I already have too much on my plate."
One by one, they filed out of the office.
Veltin turned to them. "You should all get some rest for now."
Nero shook his head.
"No. I need to see Grant first."
Veltin's jaw tightened, then she relented.
"Fine. Corporal, take Angelo to the research wing."
Vinn saluted. "Yes, ma'am."
He guided Nero down the corridor toward Grant, while Lina and CH followed Veltin to rest.
Seraphine vanished in a burst of blinding light, leaving behind only silence. Mordane didn't even flinch—he had seen her leave like that before.
As Nero and Vinn walked the corridor toward the research wing, Vinn broke the silence.
"Where'd you even get bullets for your gun?"
Nero pulled the pistol free and handed it over. Vinn turned it in his hands, testing the weight. It was lighter than it should have been. He slid out the mag—and blinked. Empty.
A short laugh escaped him as he passed it back.
"She might be a bit slow."
Nero's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"Yeah. She might."
The two reached the research wing. Like the rest of the base, it was scarred—walls blackened, equipment broken, the smell of scorched metal lingering. Inside, a lone figure sat at a desk piled with notes, wires, and shattered devices. A wheelchair framed his shape, but his sharp eyes hadn't dulled. Dr. Elias Grant.
Two guards at the door stopped them, but Grant glanced up, spotted Nero, and waved a hand.
"Let them in."
Nero stepped forward, his silver irises catching the harsh light.
Grant gave him a tired smile.
"Hey, kid. Been a while."
Something in Nero cracked. His voice wavered, his throat tightening.
"I'm sorry. It's my fault Hale died."
Grant's reply was immediate, almost impatient.
"Don't be stupid. Those things killed her. Not you."
"But it is my fault—" Nero's voice strained.
"Fine," Grant cut him off flatly. "It's your fault."
Vinn blinked at him in shock.
Grant's gaze didn't waver. "Now tell me—did anything change? Did Hale come back from the dead? No? Then stop beating yourself up. It's useless."
Nero stood silent, trembling, then exhaled slowly.
"Good. Now," Grant continued, gesturing with a hand, "tell me everything."
So Nero did. He laid it bare—the deaths of Ryan and Hale, the slaughter of his family, Sophia, Pierce's team. The blackouts. The small town. Every moment until now. His voice faltered here and there, but he didn't hold back.
Grant listened without interruption, eyes narrowed in thought. Finally, he grabbed a pair of crutches, forcing himself upright. He stepped closer, placed a hand on Nero's shoulder.
"You've been through too much. Don't take on more burdens. They'll only drag you down."
Nero's eyes shone with unshed tears.
"Let them drag me. I'll still keep moving forward. I'll carry all of it with me."
Grant's sigh was long, weary.
"Fine. But if the weight becomes too much—lean on someone. Don't carry it all alone."
"I'll try."
A pause hung between them.
Grant's tone shifted, casual but curious.
"So. What did the angel say?"
Nero told him—about infinite dimensions, about being hunted, about the slim chance that somewhere, in some other world, his family might still be alive.
Grant's brows lifted slightly, interest flashing in his eyes.
Nero tilted his head. "I'm surprised you haven't dissected her already."
Grant smirked.
"Yeah. About that. She did heal me, and besides. They don't let me anywhere near her. For… obvious reasons."
For the first time, Nero laughed—a low, weary sound. Grant joined him, the brief warmth breaking through the room's heavy air.
They spoke a little longer, about nothing and everything. At last, Grant leaned back on his crutches and said:
"You should talk to Major Harrow. He's got something you might want."